Quantcast
Skip to content
Communities
  • North Fork
    • Jamesport
    • Mattituck
    • Orient
    • Riverhead
    • Shelter Island
    • Southold
  • The Hamptons
    • Montauk
    • Quogue
    • Sag Harbor
    • Sagaponack
    • Southampton
    • Water Mill
    • Westhampton Beach
  • NYC
  • Palm Beach
  • Home Pros
  • Digital Editions
  • Dan’s Best of the Best
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe
Dan’s Papers
  • Things to Do

    Events Calendar

    View and Post Events

    • Books & Authors
    • Community
    • Events & Entertainment
    • Fairs & Festivals
    • Film & TV
    • Fitness & Outdoors
    • Food & Drink
    • Galleries & Museums
    • Kids & Families
    • LGBTQ+
    • Nonprofits & Philanthropy
    • Performing Arts
    • Pets & Animals
    • Seasonal
    • Shopping
    • Virtual

    Dan’s Events

    Visit Dan’s Taste

  • Arts & Culture
    • Artist Profiles
    • Books & Authors
    • Galleries & Museums
    • Performing Arts
    • Music, Film & TV
  • Food & Drink
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
    • Bars, Breweries & Distilleries
    • Wine & Wineries
  • Celebrity News
  • Local News
    • Crime & Police
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Business
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Obituaries
  • Real Estate
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion & Style
    • Hotels & Inns
    • Kids & Family
    • Nonprofits & Philanthropy
    • Party & Event Photos
    • Wellness
    • Dan Rattiner’s Stories
Local News

Riverhead VFW Offers Veterans Support and Connection

By Oliver Peterson
5 minute 11/10/2016 Share
wwii medals discharge
Photo: DVIDS/Maj. Satomi Mack-Martin 3rd Medical Command Deployment Support

Veteran’s Day and the much anticipated Dan’s Best of the Best Celebration Party and Concert both fall on Friday, November 11 this year, and to honor this fact Dan’s Papers is donating a portion of proceeds from the big event at Riverhead’s Suffolk Theater to Riverhead’s Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Van Rensselaer Skidmore Post No 2476.

That post’s newly elected Commander—and, at 49, the youngest ever—Thomas Najdzian took some time to explain the role of the VFW, and what his particular post does to help local veterans and the community. A maintenance supervisor for the Long Island Rail Road in his civilian life, Najdzian’s military career spanned 23 years before his retirement in 2009. He was on active duty in the US Army for four years in the 1980s and went on to serve in the National Guard, eventually deploying to Iraq in 2005. There, he was in a Direct Support Unit doing maintenance and roadside service for convoys between Kuwait and Baghdad. His unit also helped in the efforts to rebuild and equip the new Iraqi army. This service overseas allowed him membership in the VFW.

“You had to have served overseas somewhere in a conflict,” he says, but adds that they’ve opened up the requirements to include anyone who served in a support role of a conflict overseas, even if their location was on, for example, an island outside the actual combat zone. Spouses and family members of VFW members can join the Auxiliary, which works with the membership. “They do pancake drives and all kinds of stuff, food drives. Christmas is coming, Thanksgiving is coming—they do all that stuff,” Najdzian says. “They hold their meeting on a different day than us.”

Close

Get the Full Story

News, events, culture and more — delivered to you.
Thank you for subscribing!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

But all elements of the VFW have the same mission to help local organizations and people, especially veterans in need of financial, medical or any other type of assistance. “That’s how we branch out,” Najdzian says, noting that the VFW works directly with the community and its vets, while national organizations, such as Wounded Warrior Project, can be “CEO top heavy” and don’t help locals as directly.

Riverhead VFW on parade
Riverhead VFW on parade

Right now, Najdzian says the biggest challenge is bringing in young veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. “A lot of those guys are young and they’re doing a lot of family things still. They’re not going to come to the VFW post and do things with us. They’re going to go out to their kids’ football games and baseball games,” he continues. “The only time we really start seeing them is when they have problems—when they need to go to the VA or they’re having medical issues or financial issues…when they’re reaching out for help.”

Still, the VFW welcomes all veterans with open arms. “We’re always looking for members, especially now. Three weeks ago we had a funeral for one of the World War II guys and I’ve only got three left who are active in the post here,” Najdzian says. “To me those guys are the greatest generation. The stories they tell are absolutely amazing,” he says, noting that the WWII vet who died, Tony Witek, was in D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. “He actually parachuted in and didn’t find anybody for three days,” Najdzian recalls. “He had some stories to tell. These guys, they got hurt, they got shot up, they patched them up and they went right back into the battle. It’s absolutely amazing. Now, you get shot, you go home.”

Njdzian also acknowledges that coming home can be very difficult for soldiers. Few will talk about their experiences, even to family, so it’s vital to spend time with men and women who can relate. “It’s a different click when you talk to a fellow veteran because they were there,” Njdzian says, explaining another important role the VFW plays. “It’s just a different feeling and a different connection.”

Join the Van Rensselaer Skidmore VFW Post No 2476 for Veteran’s Day at the WWI monument in front of the Suffolk County Historical Society at 300 W. Main Street in Riverhead. For tickets to the Dan’s Best of the Best Celebration Concert at Suffolk Theater on November 11 in Riverhead visit BOTBConcert.com.

  • Vetted Hamptons Resources

    Hamptons Classified 

    Access our trusted network of local professionals and browse employment opportunities in the Hamptons.
    Find a Home Pro Search Jobs
  • Most Recent Articles

    Douglas Elliman, Hamptons

    Douglas Elliman Welcomes Charles Manger to Hamptons Leadership Team

    Joe Giacalone, Diane Giacalone, Rosemary Gutwillig, Samuel Lartigaut at the North Fork Pride Parade

    North Fork Makes History with Inaugural Pride Event

    At some point, you must decide when enough is enough.

    Ask Beatty: When Is Enough Enough in a Relationship?

    Connor Flanagan, executive director of the Bridgehampton Museum

    Meet Connor Flanagan, Bridgehampton Museum Executive Director

  • Dan’s Papers

    The iconic mainstay of Long Island’s East End for over 60 years.

    Read Our Papers

    Digital Editions of Dan's Papers are available online.
    Get our best stories right into your inbox. Subscribe
    Follow us
    © Dan’s Papers 2025 Schneps Media |
    Designed by Digital Silk
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

    Post an Event